Land leveling machine



Oct. 4, 1955 B. LINDBECK LAND LEVELING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 24, 1952 1N VEN TOR.

Oct, 4, 1955 L, B. LINDBECK LAND LEVELING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. lfllz ndeck Filed Nov. 24, 1952 United States Patent LAND LEVELING MACHINE Laurel Byron Lindbeck, Las Cruces, N. Mex.

Application November 24, 1952, Serial No. 322,290

6 Claims. (Cl. 37169) The invention relates to land levelling machines and more particularly to leveling machines that are drawn by a tractor.

An object of the invention is to provide a leveling machine having a main leveling blade mounted on a rigid frame structure attached to and supported by the tractor and also having an auxiliary leveling blade mounted on a rigid frame structure supported on the ground wheels and attached to the frame carrying the main leveling blade so that said auxiliary blade can swing laterally and follow the path of the main leveling blade.

A further object of the invention is to provide a con nection between the two rigid frame structures whereby the auxiliary blade carrying structure can be locked against lateral swinging movements and lifted as a unit with the frame structure carrying the main leveling blade for transporting the machine from one land plot to another.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a connection between the two rigid frame structures which includes a single coupling pin which when removed detaches the rigid frame structure, the ground wheels and the auxiliary leveling blade, so that the main blade may be used as a scraper or for back dozing.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings which show one embodiment of the invention:

Figure l is a side. view of the land leveling machines showing in full lines the leveling blades in position for a leveling operation and in broken lines the blades and associated parts lifted for transportation.

Figure 2 is a view of the machine in side elevation with the auxiliary leveling blade and its associated parts detached permitting the operation of the main leveling blade alone for grading, back dozing and the like.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the entireleveling machine and showing in broken lines the draw bars and upper link for attaching the machine to a tractor Figure 4 is a view partly in section and partly in perspective showing the main leveling blade and the upper and lower horizontal plates welded thereto.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the supporting frame structure to which the upper horizontal plate carrying the main leveling blade is detachably connected.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the arms supporting the auxiliary leveling blade.

The leveling machine includes a main leveling blade 10 extending from one side of the machine to the other. It also includes an auxiliary leveling blade 11 likewise extending from one side of the machine to the other.

The main leveling blade inclines rearwardly at 12 and thence forwardly at 13 and thus forms a bucket for retaining the earth taken from a high point and distributes it in the low levels. At each end of the leveling blade are wing plates 14, 14 which prevent the earth from spilling around the ends of the blade. 1

Attached to the bladeis a plate having an upper hori- 2,719,369 Patented Oct. 4, 1955 zontal portion 15, a vertical portion 16, and a lower horizontal portion 17. These plate portions are welded to the blade intermediate the ends of the blade and serve as a very strong means by which the blade is supported.

Detachably connected to the horizontal upper portion of the plate is a supporting frame which includes parallel angle bars 18, 18, attached to the ends of the plate 15, and extending forward therefrom. Connected to the forward ends of these angle bars 18 are upwardly extending inclined bars 19, 19, terminating in vertical portions 20, 20, closely spaced from each other. The supporting frame also includes brace bars 21, 21, attached to the rear ends of the angle bars 18, 18, and inclining inwardly and forwardly with the upper ends thereof disposed between the vertical members 20, 20 and secured thereto by a bolt 22.. This provides a very rigid frame which is detachably connected to the horizontal plate portion 15 by four bolts 23. r

Extending outwardly from the forward end of the frame structure are pivot pins 24, 24. Draw bars 24a, 24a, are connected to the pivot pins at their outer ends and are pivoted at their inner ends to the housing of the tractor. Pivoted to each draw bar is a link 25 and the links are connected in turn to the power actuated lifting arms 26 of the tractor.

There is also an upper center link 27 which is pivoted at its inner end to the tractor housing and at its outer end to the vertical'mernbers 2b, 20, of the frame structure sup porting the main leveling blade. This link 27 is made in two parts connected by right and left-hand threads to a sleeve 28. Handles 29, 29 are provided for turning the sleeve to lengthen or shorten the link for shifting the supporting structure to different set positions on the pivotal supports on the draw bars 24a, 24a. The link 27 may be connected at different set positions to the vertical members 20, 20, to vary the supporting leverage on the supporting frame structure.

Welded to the plate portion 15 is a coupling pin supporting lug 31 which projects rearwardly from the plate and has an opening for the coupling pin 31. There is also a lug 32 welded to the lower horizontal plate portion 17 which has an opening for the coupling pin 31.

Attached to the rigid frame structure carrying the leveling blade 10 is a rigid trailing T-frame structure. This trailing frame includes a central draw bar made in two sections, one of which is indicated at 33 and the other at 33 in Figure 1. The section 33 can be telescoped into the section 33 to a greater or lesser extent for shortening or lengthening the draw bar. The sections are held in set position by a bolt 34. The rear portion of the telescoping section 3' inclines downwardly and is attached at its end to a tubular cross bar 35. Welded to the underside of the telescoping section 33 is a plate 36. Brace rods 37, 37 are joined near their ends to this cross bar and are connected by a suitable bolt 38 to the opposite sides of the plate 36. This makes up a very rigid T-shape frame structure.

Welded to one end of the cross bar 35 is a plate 39 which projects rearwardly from a cross bar. There is a similar plate 40 at the other end of the cross bar which likewise projects laterally therefrom. There is a plate 41 welded to the cross bar adjacent but spaced from the plate 39. A stub axle 42 passes through said plates and is held from movement therein in any suitable way. Mounted on the outer end of the stub axle 42 is a trailing ground wheel 43. At the other end of the cross bar 35 is a plate 44 which is welded to the cross bar and projects rearwardly therefrom. It is spaced from the plate 40 and a stub axle 45 extends through said plates and is secured thereto in any suitable manner. Mounted on the stub axle is a trailing ground wheel 46.

Mounted on the front end of the telescoping section 33 is a sleeve 47. Welded to the sleeve 47 is a depending sleeve 48. A web 49 is welded to the sleeve 47 and also to the depending sleeve 48 thus forming a rigid support for the depending or vertically extending sleeve 48. This T-shaped rigid frame is connected to the rigid frame structure carrying the main leveling blade 10 by the coupling pin 31.

During the leveling operation of the machine the rigid T-frame can swing laterally on the coupling pin so that the trailing wheels of the T-frame structure will follow the path of the main leveling blade.

Mounted on the stub axle 42 between the plates 39 and 41 is an arm 50. This arm is pivotally mounted on the stub axle. Also mounted on the stub axle 45 be tween the plates 40 and 44 is an arm 51. This arm pivots on the stub axle. At the outer ends of the arms 59 and 51 is an L-shaped leveling blade 11, Said blade is secured in any suitable way to the arms so as to provide a rigid connection between them. At each end of the leveling blade 11 is an end plate 52, 52. These end plates 52, 52 prevent the dirt from spilling around the end of the leveling blade 11.

An upstanding U-shaped bracket 53 is welded to the arm 50. An L-shaped bracket 54 is welded to the cross bar 35. A rod 55 is secured to the bracket 53 by a bolt 56 which passes through an eye in the rod. The opposite end of the rod is threaded and passes through an open ing in one of the flanges of the bracket 54. There is a nut 57 threaded onto the rod outside of the flange of the bracket and there is a nut threaded on the rod at the inner side of the flange. By adjusting these nuts the rod may be shortened or lengthened and thus the arm 50 raised or lowered. The arm 51 carries a similar U-shaped bracket 58 and the cross bar 35 has a similar L-shaped bracket 59. There is a similar rod 60 attached to the bracket 58 and adjustably connected to the bracket 59 by nuts so that the rod may be lengthened or shortened for raising or lowering the arm 51.

There is an upstanding U-shaped bracket 61 secured to the sleeve 47. An arm 62 is secured to the flanges of the bracket 30 by means of a bolt 63. During grading this arm is turned to an upright position as shown in Figure 2. When, however, it is desired to raise the T-shaped frame the trailing wheels and the auxiliary leveling blade for transportation purposes then the arm 62 is swung into a horizontal position between the flanges of the U-shaped bracket 61. This will prevent the draw bar from swinging laterally on the coupling pin.

The machine described above is capable of many uses in grading and leveling a plot of land. Perhaps the most important use is finish leveling, where both the main blade and the auxiliary blade are in action. For this finish leveling the main blade and the auxiliary blade are positioned or set so that the blades are raised a slight distance above the leveled ground surface when the ground wheels are in contact therewith. Thus set, the blades will not cut into a leveled surface. However, when a high portion of earth passes between the tractor Wheels the main blade will cut into the high portion, remove it, and carry it along and distribute it in low places over which the tractor passes. Any rough or ribbed portions passing the main blade and between the ground wheels will be engaged by the auxiliary blade and smooth out to a finished level.

The changing of the set position of the main blade can be accomplished by operating the power arms 26, 26, of the tractor so as to lift the ground wheels 38, 38 off the ground, then lengthening the link 27 when you want to raise the main blade, or shortening the link when you want to lower the blade. After these adjustments have been made the power arms are lowered to bring the ground wheels back into contact with a level ground surface. The auxiliary blade 11 can be raised or lowered by adjusting the stop nuts 57, 57 on the rods.

It is sometimes desirable to use the main blade alone in leveling or grading certain areas. This can quickly be accomplished by withdrawing the coupling pin which releases all connection with the auxiliary leveling blade, the ground wheel and all associated frame parts. By rcmoving the four bolts connecting the upper horizontal plate to the supporting frame the main blade can be reversed end for end, again attached and used as a pusher or back dozer when the tractor is operated in a reverse direction.

It is obvious that many changes in the details of construction can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A leveling machine comprising a rigid frame structure attached to and supported by a tractor, a main leveling blade mounted on said frame structure, a second rigid frame structure, ground wheels carried thereby, an auxiliary leveling blade mounted on said last named rigid frame structure and disposed in rear of said wheels and supported by said wheels, means for raising and lowering said auxiliary blade relative to said Wheels for setting said auxiliary blade at or above ground level and means for swingingly connecting said first named rigid frame structure to the frame structure carrying the ground wheels and auxiliary leveling blade so that said auxiliary blade may swing laterally and follow the path of the main leveling blade.

2. A leveling machine comprising a rigid frame structure attached to and supported by a tractor, a main leveling blade mounted on said frame structure, a second rigid frame structure, ground wheels carried thereby, an auxiliary leveling blade mounted on said last named rigid frame structure and disposed in rear of said wheels and supported by said wheels, means for raising and lowering said auxiliary blade relative to said wheels for setting said auxiliary blade at or above ground level and means for swingingly connecting said first namedrigid frame structure to the frame structure carrying the ground wheels and auxiliary leveling blade so that said auxiliary blade may swing laterally and follow the path of the main leveling blade, said connecting means including a coupling pin which when removed detaches the ground wheels, auxiliary leveling blade and the associated frame structure from the machine.

3. A leveling machine comprising a rigid frame structure attached to and supported by a tractor, a main leveling blade mounted on said frame structure, a second rigid frame structure, ground wheels carried thereby, an auxiliary leveling blade mounted on said last named rigid frame structure and disposed in rear of said wheels and supported by said wheels, means for raising and lowering said auxiliary blade relative to said wheels for setting said auxiliary blade at or above ground level and means for swingingly connecting said first named rigid frame structure to the frame structure carrying the ground wheels and auxiliary leveling blade so that said auxiliary blade may swing laterally and follow the path of the main leveling blade, and means for locking said frame structure carrying the ground wheels and auxiliary leveling blade from lateral swinging movement so that said frame, ground wheels and leveling blade can be lifted as a unit with the frame supporting the main leveling blade for transporting the machine.

4. A ground leveling machine comprising a main leveling blade adapted to extend transversely of the machine from one side thereof to the other, a rigid frame structure adapted to support said blade, devices adapted to connect said frame structure to a tractor so that it is supported and raised and lowered by said devices, vertically spaced lugs carried by said frame structure, a vertically disposed coupling pin removably mounted in said lugs, a rigid T-shaped frame consisting of a central tubular draw bar and a tubular cross bar welded to the rear end thereof, said tubular draw bar at the front end thereof having a vertically disposed sleeve adapted to be mounted on the coupling pin for lateral swinging movements only, ground wheels supported at the ends of said tubular cross bar, arms mounted on said tubular cross bar and projecting rearwardly therefrom and an auxiliary leveling blade carried by said arms and extending transversely from one side of the machine to the other, and means for shifting and rigidly supporting said arms in a selected set position.

5. A ground leveling machine comprising a main leveling blade adapted to extend transversely of the machine from one side thereof to the other, a rigid frame structure adapted to support said blade, devices adapted to connect said frame structure to a tractor so that it is supported and raised and lowered by said devices, vertically spaced lugs carried by said frame structure, a vertically disposed coupling pin removably mounted in said lugs, a rigid T-shaped frame consisting of a central tubular draw bar and a tubular cross bar welded to the rear end thereof, said tubular draw bar at the front end thereof having a vertically disposed sleeve adapted to be mounted on the coupling pin for lateral swinging movements only, said tubular draw bar being formed of two telescoping sections, locking means for holding said sections in a set position, ground wheels supported at the ends of the tubular cross bar, arms mounted on the tubular cross bar and projecting rearwardly therefrom and an auxiliary leveling blade carried by said arms and extending transversely from one side of the machine to the other, and means for shifting said arms vertically and rigidly supporting the same in a selected set position.

6. A ground leveling machine comprising a main leveling blade adapted to extend transversely of the machine from one side thereof to the other, a rigid frame structure adapted to support said blade, devices adapted to connect said frame structure to a tractor so that it is supported and raised and lowered by said devices, vertically spaced lugs carried by said frame structure, a vertically disposed coupling pin removably mounted in said lugs, a rigid T-shaped frame consisting of a central tubular draw bar and a tubular cross bar welded to the rear end thereof, said tubular draw bar at the front end thereof having a vertically disposed sleeve adapted to be mounted on the coupling pin for lateral swinging movements only, a pair of spaced plates Welded to the tubular cross bar at each end thereof projecting rearwardly therefrom, a stub axle in each pair of plates and a ground wheel mounted on each axle, arms pivotally mounted on said stub axles between said plates and projecting rearwardly therefrom, an auxiliary leveling blade carried by said arms and extending transversely from one side of the machine to the other, and means for shifting said arms and rigidly supporting the same in a selected set position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 23,190 Smith Jan. 10, 1950 905,553 Mineah Dec. 1, 1908 1,170,100 Pearson Feb. 1, 1916 1,442,247 Brown et al Jan. 16, 1923 1,491,637 Schrum Apr. 22, 1924 2,141,690 Glenn Dec. 27, 1938 2,218,564 Thomas Oct. 22, 1940 2,370,830 Arps Mar. 6, 1945 

